Magruder High Hires Bernot as Football Coach
He leaves Rockville High after posting a 16-15 record over three seasons.
The Kevin Bernot era at Rockville High School has come to an end after just three seasons.
Col. Zadok Magruder High School Athletic Director Karl Heimbach confirmed that the Rockville head football coach and 1990 Sherwood High School graduate has accepted the vacant head coaching position at Magruder.
Rockville Athletic Director Mike Hayes said that Bernot met with players on Thursday to tell them that he was leaving the program.
“He’s a good guy, he did great stuff for us at Rockville,” Hayes said. “He’s a good coach and people like him so it’s always sad to see people like that go.”
An official announcement on the hiring is expected to be made on Monday, Heimbach said.
Bernot was selected from a pool of more than two dozen candidates who applied for the position, including some from out of state. He replaces Shawn Prather who was fired after three seasons at his alma mater. Bernot takes over a Magruder football program that has made just one playoff appearance in the past 12 years.
Bernot was hired at Rockville in 2009 after a five-year stint as a Sherwood assistant. He was a finalist last year for the Warriors’ head coaching job that went to Mike Bonavia.
Bernot compiled a 16-15 record in three seasons at Rockville, guiding the Rams to playoff appearances in his first two seasons.
Rockville went 8-2 in Bernot’s first season at the helm, a campaign that ended with a 14-7 double overtime regional semifinal loss to Middletown. The Rams finished the 2010 season at 8-3 with a 43-14 playoff loss to South Carroll. Rockville finished the 2011 campaign 0-10.
The Rams are searching for their third helmsman since the 2006 campaign when Mark Maradei took over for longtime head coach Jack Freeman. Maradei compiled a 16-14 record in three seasons at Rockville.
Potential candidates to replace Bernot include Seth Kenton, who has spent the past three years as the Rams’ defensive coordinator.
Sean Carr
7:57 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Is coaching high school football a full-time job in MoCo?
Jeff Hawkins
8:44 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
No, I believe it's a "stipend" position. You have to be full-time classroom teacher I think.
Louis Lombardo
8:59 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
With all the injuries that football causes to high school boys, the questions asked about pay (amounts and sources) are important questions that the Patch should answer.
Jeff Hawkins
9:14 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Louis,
Not sure that injuries contracted while playing football or any activity for that matter have to with "pay amounts" for the Coach.
If you must know, that "pay" information can be obtained at the MCPS website.
Louis Lombardo
1:08 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Thanks Jeff. Can you please give a link to readers? As a grandpa with kids in the system and a grandson playing football at a school with I am told has 10 coaches, I worry about him and others being injured and with our education budget being squeezed, I wonder about whether this is the best thing to spend tax dollars on.
What do you think?
Jeff Hawkins
1:54 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Louis,
It's in the Extra Curricular Handbook, it's a PDF file at the MCPS website, it gives alot of detail.
Are you worried about your Grandson playing football, the size of the coaching staff and the education budget?
I do know the amount of pay for coach's and their assistants have been reduced this year. High School football is over for this year, are you thinking about next year?
Football has it's risks like any sport, so it's a personal decision for all involved. I don't think anyone can tell you what to do on that one.
I think athletics are good for the kid's and for school morale and worth every penny. Is your Grandson happy playing football? Is he having fun and maybe learning some disciplines?